Swivel block



June 18, 1968 N. L. DE MEO SWIVEL BLOCK Filed Jan. 11, 1967 United States Patent 3,388,891 SWIVEL BLOCK Nicholas Lawrence De Meo, Medford, Mass., assignor to Schaefer Equipment Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 608,695 3 Claims. (Cl. 254-195) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A swivel deck block adapted to swivel through 360 in a horizontal plane and constructed to maintain the block shell out of contact with the deck in all positions.

Backgronnd of the invention The present invention relates to marine hardware and more particularly to a swivel deck block.

Swivel deck blocks are well known items of marine equipment and find use for instance on sailing yachts for trimming and leading the main sheet from its connection on the boom. Such blocks comprise a base or pad adapted to be secured to a supporting surface, e.g., a deck, the block shell wherein the sheave is rotatably mounted, and a connecting member rotatably connected to the shell and pivotally connected to the base for joining the shell to the base. Typically known swivel deck blocks are so constructed that the block shell will lie on the deck when the line reeving through it is not under tension. This is not only disadvantageous in that banging of the block on the deck may scar the deck or damage the block and call for the use of a protective pad, but also any contact of the shell of the block with the deck or with the base may interfere with free movement of the shell with respect to the base and thus interfere with free running of the line through the block. Swivel deck blocks constructed to prevent contact of the shell of the block with the deck as heretofore known have suffered from various disadvantages such as complicated construction or limitation of the degree of freedom of movement of the shell with respect to its base such as limitation of free pivotal movement throughout 360 in a horizontal plane.

An object of the invention is to provide a swivel deck block wherein the shell is connected to the base for universal pivotal movement thereon and wherein the shell is prevented from coming in contact with the base or its supporting surface no matter what position the block shell may assume with respect to the base.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swivel deck block wherein the shell is connected to the base by a staple and eye connection for universal pivotal movement on the base and the shell is at all times maintained out of contact with the base and its supporting surface no matter what position it may assume with respect to the base.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swivel deck block wherein the shell may be moved throughout the full 360 in the horizontal plane and is at all points maintained out of contact with the base and its supporting surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swivel deck block wherein means is provided on the member connecting the shell and base for preventing contact of the shell with the base or its supporting surface in all positions of the shell with respect to the base.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings of an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

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Summary of the invention The invention provides a swivel block comprising a base having a surface adapted to be connected to a supporting surface, a shell having a sheave rotatably mounted therein and a connecting member rotatably connected to the shell and pivotally connected to the base, the connecting member being shaped to provide an external surface'thereon adapted to engage the base to prevent contact of the shell with the base and with the supporting surface in all positions of the shell with respect to the base. Preferably said external surface is a circular surface and preferably the connecting member is connected to the base for universal pivotal movement with respect thereto. Preferably said connecting member is provided with a flange lying perpendicular to the center line of the connection between the shell and base, with the peripheral surface of the flange coaxial with said center line and providing said external surface. Desirably the connecting member is connected to the base by means of a staple upstanding from the base opposite its supporting surface and an eye in the connecting member, for universal pivot-al movement of the shell with respect to the base.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention; and,

FIGURE 2 is a vertical mid-sectional view through the block of PEG. 1.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawing, the swivel deck block of the illustrative embodiment comprises a shell 2 wherein is mounted a sheave 4 for rotation within the shell about a pin 6 extending through the checks of the shell 2. The shell further includes a U-shaped strap 8 extending inside the cheeks of the shell, the pin 6 passing through apertures in the legs of the strap. The shell with its sheave is conventional and may be of any desired construction, not forming part of the present invention.

The shell 2 is adapted to be mounted on any desired supporting surface such as the upper surface 10 of a deck where it may form a lead for a main sheet, for example. The shell is so mounted by means of a base indicated generally at 12. The base 12 comprises a metal base plate 14 having a series of apertures 16 therein for the reception of screws or bolts 18 for connecting the base to the supporting member 10. The plate 14 has substantially flat upper and lower surfaces as shown. In the illustrative embodiment the base 12 also includes a pad 20 of any suitable material, for example, plastic impregnated wood, interposed between the base plate 14 and the supporting surface 10 and provided with a series of apertures 22 mating with the apertures 16 in the base plate 14 through which the bolts or screws 18 may pass. The base plate 14 is provided with a fixed staple 24 upstanding from its surface opposite the surface which is to face the supporting surface, for connection of the shell 2 to the base plate 14.

The shell 2 is connected to the base plate 14 by means of a connecting member indicated generally at 26. The connecting member 26 is provided adjacent its lower end with an eye 28, the greater part of the material surrounding the eye being of' circular cross-section as indicated at 30. The eye 28 receives the staple 24 so that the connecting member 26 is connected to the base 12 for universal pivotal movement with respect thereto. At its opposite end, the connecting member 26 is provided with a stem 32 extending through an aperture in the cross member 34 of the U-shaped strap 8. The end of the stem 32 lying inside the strap member 8 is headed over or provided with a weldment as at 36 to prevent separation of the connecting member 26 and the cross member 34. The stem 32 and its head 36 have a loose fitting engagement with the cross member 34 whereby the strap 8, and thus the shell 2, may freely rotate on the connecting member 26 about the center line of the connection between the shell 2 and the base 12, that is, the line passing through the center of the extreme portion of the part 30 of the connecting member 26 and through the axis of the pin 6, and lying at right angles to the latter.

Intermediate its upper and lower ends, the connecting member 26 is provided with means for preventing contact of the shell 2 with the base member 12 or the supporting surface 10, in all positions the shell may assume with respect to the base, comprising an external surface on the connecting member 26 adapted to engage the base 12 to prevent such contact. In the illustrative embodiment, the connecting member 26 is provided for this purpose with a flange 38 cast integral therewith and having an external surface 40 which is circular and which is coaxial with the center line of the connection between the shell 2 and base 12, described above. The external surface 40 also is curved as seen in cross section in FIG. 2, being smoothly rounded. The flange 38 is of such diameter, with regard to its longitudinal position on the connecting member 26, that when its external surface 40 makes contact with the upper surface of the base plate 14 the shell 2 lies out of contact with the base 12 and the supporting surface 10 no matter in what position of rotation on the stem 32 the shell 2 may be and irrespective of the pivotal position of the connecting member 26 with respect to the base 12. The rounded circular external surface 40 smoothly runs on the upper surface of the plate 14 so as to permit the shell 2 to move freely in horizontal directions throughout the entire 360.

As the shell 2 never engages the base 12 or supporting surface 10, it is not subject to damage by and cannot cause damage to these parts through contact therewith, such as by banging against the deck, such as could occur with certain of the swivel deck blocks of the prior art.

While a particular presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail for purposes of disclosure of the invention it will be understood that the invention is not confined to this particular embodiment but may be embodied in various other forms by those skilled in the art without departure from the invention. Thus the block may be provided with a becket or may take other modified forms as is known in the art. The base 12 may be in the form of a slider adapted to be mounted on a track, as is known in the art. The block of the invention is not confined to use on decks.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the invention has provided a swivel deck block wherein the shell is adapted to freely pivot on its base throughout a full circumference in the horizontal direction and yet is continually maintained out of contact with the supporting surface such as a deck and may be maintained at a desirable elevation. At the same time the constructionis simple and reliable, is free from any objectionable projecting parts, and is readily susceptible to manufacture by established procedures.

I claim:

1. A swivel block comprising a base having a surface adapted to be connected to a supporting surface, a shell, a sheave rotatably mounted in said shell, and a connecting member rotatably connected to said shell and pivotally connected to said base, said connecting member being provided with a flange lying perpendicular to the center line of the connection between said shell and base and shaped to provide an external surface adapted to engage said base.to prevent contact of the shell with said base and with said supporting surface in all positions of the shell with respect to said base.

2. A block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said external surface is a circular surface coaxial with said center line.

3. A swivel deck block in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a staple upstanding from said base, and wherein said connecting member has an eye receiving said staple for connecting said connecting member to said base for universal pivotal movement with respect thereto, and said flange lies perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said shell and has a peripheral surface which is circular and coaxial with said axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,837,628 12/1931 Merriman 254-495 2,071,578 2/1937 Roach 254-195 2,140,086 12/ 1938 McKissick 254-495 EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

